The following low-cost insurance programs are available to uninsured children and adults who qualify.
Click on each program's name to obtain more information about eligibility and registration. Also, ask insurance carriers in your county if they offer low-cost coverage for young adults.
- AIDS Insurance
The NYS Department of Health's AIDS Institute has established four programs which provide access to free health care (HIV Drugs, Primary Care, Home Care, and APIC) for New York State residents with HIV infection who are uninsured or underinsured. The four programs use the same application forms and enrollment process.
How to Apply
Visit this page of the New York State Department of Health Web site. Download and complete the application found there.
Or call one of the following phone numbers:
In State - Toll Free 1-800-542-2437
Out of State - (518)459-1641
TDD - (518)459-1641
HIV Uninsured Care Programs, Empire Station, P.O. Box 2052, Albany, NY 12220-0052
- Community Medicaid
Medicaid is a program for New Yorkers who can't afford to pay for medical care. You may be covered by Medicaid if:
- You have high medical bills.
- You receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
- You meet certain income, resource, age, or disability requirements.
Children, aged, blind and disabled persons can "spend down" for eligibility. Retroactive coverage is possible if applicant has medical bills from three months prior to the date of application and met income and resource standards.
How to Apply
If you are under age 65, contact:
Chemung County DSS
Human Resource Center
425 Pennsylvania Ave.
Elmira, New York 14902
607-737-5309
- Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program
EPIC is a New York State-sponsored prescription plan for senior citizens who need help paying for their prescriptions. New York State residents can join EPIC if they are 65 or older, and have an annual income of $35,000 or less if single, or $50,000 or less if married. Seniors who receive full Medicaid benefits or have other prescription coverage that is better than EPIC are not eligible for EPIC benefits.
EPIC is a cost-sharing program. Seniors with moderate incomes pay a low quarterly fee, and participate in the Fee Plan. Seniors with higher incomes meet an annual deductible and participate in the Deductible Plan. Those who pay a fee or meet their deductible make a co-payment at the pharmacy when purchasing prescriptions.
Almost all prescription medicines are covered, as well as insulin, and insulin syringes and needles. Both brand name and less expensive generic drugs are included. Enrollees can buy up to 100 tablets, or a 30-day supply at a time.
To find out more, call EPIC's toll-free helpline, 800-332-3742, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To get an application online, click here.
- Family Planning Benefit Program
FPBP is a program for New Yorkers who need family planning services, but may not be able to afford them. It is intended to increase access to family planning services and to enable individuals of childbearing age to prevent or reduce the incidence of unintentional pregnancies.
You may be covered by FPBP if:
- You are a female or male of childbearing age, up to age 65
- You are a New York State resident
- You are a citizen, national*, Native American, or in satisfactory immigration status
- You meet certain income requirements
- You are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid or Family Health Plus or wish to apply only for the Family Planning Benefit Program
How to Apply
Contact one of the following:
Chemung County Health Department
425 Pennsylvania Ave.
PO Box 588
Elmira, New York 14902
607-737-5309
Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes
301 South Main Street
Horseheads, NY 14845
1-800-230-PLAN (7526)
- Healthy NY
Healthy NY is a unique program designed to encourage small employers to offer health insurance coverage to their employees, dependents, and other qualified individuals. It creates standardized health insurance benefit packages to be offered by all health maintenance organizations that are made more affordable through state sponsorship, so that more uninsured small employers and uninsured employed individuals should be able to purchase health insurance coverage.
All HMOs in New York State offer streamlined, yet comprehensive health insurance benefits packages for eligible businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Healthy NY includes health benefits that cover essential health needs, including inpatient and outpatient hospital services, physician services, maternity care, preventative health services, diagnostic and X-ray services, and emergency services. Applicants may now choose between a benefit package with a limited prescription benefit or a benefit package without a prescription drug benefit.
Additionally, Healthy NY created a state-sponsored health insurance program for eligible working uninsured individuals. With this program, eligible individuals can purchase the streamlined benefits packages that are available to employees of small businesses participating in the Healthy NY small business insurance program.
Although Healthy NY is available to small employers, sole proprietors, and uninsured working individuals, each group has its own distinctive set of eligibility criteria and participation rules. It is suggested when using this site that you first determine which category you fall into based upon your own personal circumstance.
To learn more or apply, call Healthy NY at 866-432-5849 (HEALTHY NY) or go to http://www.dfs.ny.gov/healthyny/.
- Medicaid Applications Buy-In Program For People With Disabilities
The Medicaid Buy-In program offers Medicaid coverage to people with disabilities who are working, and earning more than the allowable limits for regular Medicaid, the opportunity to retain their health care coverage through Medicaid. This program allows working people with disabilities to earn more income without the risk of losing vital health care coverage.
To qualify for the Medicaid Buy-In program for Working People with Disabilities, you must:
- Be a resident of New York State;
- Be at least 16 years of age (coverage up to 65 years of age);
- Have a disability as defined by the Social Security Administration;
- Be engaged in paid work (includes part-time and full-time work), for which you need to file an Income Tax Return;
- Have a gross income that may be as high as $46,170 for an individual and $61,870 for a couple; and
- Have non-exempt resources that do not exceed $10,000.
How to Apply
The Disability Review Team at the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office determines disability for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. A determination of disability by SSA will be accepted as proof of disability for the Medicaid Buy-In program for Working People with Disabilities. If you have not been certified disabled through SSA, you will need to have a disability review done by New York State Disability Review Team.
Contact:
Chemung County Department of Social Services
Human Resource Center
425 Pennsylvania Ave
PO Box 588
Elmira, New York 14902
607-737-5309
- Medicare
Our Medicare section offers comprehensive, official information provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The official government handbook, "Medicare & You," includes sections on Medicare coverage choices, choosing a prescription plan, financial assistance, your Medicare rights, and more.
For more information about the Medicare Advantage Plans, other Medicare Health Plans, or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans available in your area, visit medicare.gov on the Web or call (800) MEDICARE (800-633-4227). TTY users should call (877) 486-2048.
Learn more about private insurance enrollment for Medicare D.
The Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) offers free individual counseling about Medicare and other health-care issues. HIICAP counseling is available in every county in New York. To find a HIICAP counselor in your county, please click here or call (800) 342-9871.
- Medicare Savings Program
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (QMB):
This program can pay for either the Medicare Part A or Part B premium. For payment of the Medicare Part A premium, applicants must enroll in Medicare Part A through the Social Security Office. This program also pays for the Medicare Parts A and B coinsurance and deductibles.
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program (SLIMB):
This program pays for the Medicare Part B premium only. The applicant must have Medicare Part A in order to be eligible for the program.
Qualified Individual-1 (QI-1):
This program pays for the Medicare Part B premium only. The applicant must have Medicare Part A. States are allotted money for this program on a yearly basis.
How to Apply
If you have Medicare and are over age 65, contact:
Chemung County Office for Aging
425 Pennsylvania Ave.
P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902-0588
(607) 737-5520
- NY State Of Health
If you do not have health insurance or have purchased a policy yourself because you are self-employed or your employer doesn’t provide it, you may be able to buy a policy through your state’s insurance marketplace. Go to NY State of Health or call 855-355-5777.